THIN Synonyms: 197 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'thin' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of thin are slender , slight , slim , and tenuous . While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," thin implies comparatively little extension between surfaces or in diameter, or it may imply lack of substance, richness, or abundance. // thin wire // a thin soup

Q: In what contexts can 'slender' take the place of 'thin'?

The words slender and thin can be used in similar contexts, but slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion. // the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

Q: When would 'slight' be a good substitute for 'thin'?

The synonyms slight and thin are sometimes interchangeable, but slight implies smallness as well as thinness. // a slight build

Q: When is it sensible to use 'slim' instead of 'thin'?

The words slim and thin are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness. // a slim volume of poetry // a slim chance

Q: Where would 'tenuous' be a reasonable alternative to 'thin'?

In some situations, the words tenuous and thin are roughly equivalent. However, tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness. // a tenuous thread

thin 1 of 2

adjective

ˈthin

Definition of thin

as in skinny

having a noticeably small amount of body fat after starting a workout routine, she looked thinner

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in slender

being of less than usual width the thin threads of a cobweb

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in thinned

not containing very much of some important element the evidence for that oddball theory is pretty thin

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

thin

2 of 2

verb

as in to dilute

to alter (something) for the worse with the addition of foreign or lower-grade substances thinned the cream with milk but didn't tell anyone

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective thin contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of thin are slender, slight, slim, and tenuous. While all these words mean "not thick, broad, abundant, or dense," thin implies comparatively little extension between surfaces or in diameter, or it may imply lack of substance, richness, or abundance.

thin wire

a thin soup

In what contexts can slender take the place of thin?

The words slender and thin can be used in similar contexts, but slender implies leanness or spareness often with grace and good proportion.

the slender legs of a Sheraton chair

When would slight be a good substitute for thin?

The synonyms slight and thin are sometimes interchangeable, but slight implies smallness as well as thinness.

a slight build

When is it sensible to use slim instead of thin?

The words slim and thin are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, slim applies to slenderness that suggests fragility or scantiness.

a slim volume of poetry

a slim chance

Where would tenuous be a reasonable alternative to thin?

In some situations, the words tenuous and thin are roughly equivalent. However, tenuous implies extreme thinness, sheerness, or lack of substance and firmness.

a tenuous thread

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of thin

Adjective

However, the catalyst has so far been demonstrated only as a model thin-film system, so additional work will be needed before it can be adapted for industrial reactors. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026 Peak-season crowds begin to thin, evening breezes feel a little cooler and the countdown to Labor Day serves as a reminder to savor the season before shorter autumn days arrive. — Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Verb

Boo birds rained down at various points, and the stands started to thin out in the later innings. — Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 July 2026 Anyone who’s on an anticoagulant, anything that thins your blood or prevents you from having a blood clot, should talk with a pharmacist or healthcare provider first to double-check which supplements interact with those types of medications. — Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for thin

Recent Examples of Synonyms for thin

Adjective

Must-order side dishes include authentic, crisp and skinny French fries, redolent of truffle, and giant slices of roasted Brussels sprouts.

— Connie Ogle July 31, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026
Maybe that’s why replacing all my skinny jeans with wide-leg styles never quite solved my own denim dilemma.

— Alesandra Dubin, Glamour, 31 July 2026

Definition of skinny

Adjective

At a nearby table, a pair of slender metallic arms was folding and refolding a blue T-shirt.

— Evan Osnos, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
In this tall, slender building though, there’s a feel of being tucked away in the eaves of a guesthouse on some cobblestoned European side street, especially after the long and creaky elevator ride.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of slender

Adjective

Finally, the third recruits seaweed to gather minerals that are otherwise too dilute to chase.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
Clean and disinfect your pruning shears between working on each plant by dipping them into a dilute 10% solution of chlorine bleach water or rubbing alcohol.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 4 July 2026

Definition of dilute

Verb

At the same time, the data shows, courts have severely cut the length of time many people are getting to prepare for complex immigration proceedings, from about six months to often just a little more than a month.

— ABC News, ABC News, 1 Aug. 2026
Using a paring knife, mark a smaller square inside each pastry square, leaving a 1/2 inch border (do not cut all the way through the dough).

— Torie Cox, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of cut

Adjective

The narrow waterway passing between Iran and Oman serves as the main route for shipping crude from oil-rich countries such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait to the rest of the world.

— Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
The fighting has severely disrupted shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a narrow maritime choke point that typically handles around a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of narrow

Adjective

What to Use Instead of Vinegar While using diluted vinegar here and there in a pinch likely won’t ruin your floors, there are much safer ways to clean laminate.

— Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
While effective in many respects, that structure created handoffs that slowed development and diluted accountability.

— Peter High, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of diluted

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thimblerigs

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“Thin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thin. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of thin

adjective

verb

Synonym Chooser

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Phrases Containing thin

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on thin

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

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Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

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Games & Quizzes